Tube-welding process.



M. B. LLOYD. TUBE WEQDING PROCESS.

APPLICATION TILED MAR. 10, 1914.

- Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET l.

-f 6] 6'6 6.1! 62 I 1 O 6 d0 B. LLOYD.

TUBE WELDING PROCESS. APPLICATION FILED MA R.'10, 1914.

Patnted Jan 12, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. B. LLOYD. TUBE WELDING PROCESS.

APYLIOATIOIi FILED MAR. 10, 1914v Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

M. B. LLOYD.

TUBE WELDING PROCESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.10,1914.

' Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

1. a 26 i5 .53 if 1 v2? M. B. LLOYD. TUBE WELDING PROCESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1914.

v Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

M. B. LLOYD. TUBE WELDING PROCESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1914'. 1,124,766. 4 Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

. I '1 SHEETS-SHEET e.

M. B. LLOYD. TUBE WELDING PROCESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.10, 1914.

' Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

" esses State of Michigan,

fication.

* UuiTED STATES-PATENT oFFr-cE.

MARSHALL BURNS LLOYD, OF MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE ELYRIA & STEEL COMPANY, OF .Z BLYRIA,.Q; HIO,"

.TION OF OHIO.

1,124,766. ori nal application alea April 6, 1912,

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, MARSHALL B. LLOYD, a citizen of the United'States, and resident of Menominee, county of :Menominee, an

have invented a certain new, useful, and Improved T ube-Weldin'g Process, of'which the following is a speci- My invention relates generally to improvements in the processesof manufacturing tubing and has special reference to procfor welding the seams of pre-formed metal tubes.

The present invention is a companion to and a divisional part-of my pendin application Serial' Number 689,092,'filed pril 6, 1912.

The general object of my invention is the continuous welding of lengths of seamed tubes.

Among the other objects of my invention are, to weld lengths of seamed tubes without waste, 7 thefulljlength of the seamed tube; to weld seamed tubes rapidly without recourse to the usual step of preliminarily heating the whole tube; to produce suchwelded tubes-at eral steps comprising my 1 less cost than has been possible hitherto; and

to weld them with less formity.

As will be more fully explained hereinafter, I attain this and other objects by applying forces to hold the seam edges of the metal tube together and to move the tube forward asa whole, applying heatto thd seam edges of the tube at a relatively fixed point, as thus held, and welding'the same as the tube moves, and before the tube is welded throughout its entire lengthplacing a similar seamed tube in end to end abutment therewith and applying forces thereto to hold the seam edges together and to move the tube forward past the relatively fixed heating zone, and thus continuously welding lengths of tubing. I preferably also apply force to the respective tubes to position or aline the seam thereofwith respect to the point of'the application of the welding heat.- My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specifica-- tion and in which I have illustrated the seve processes praclabor and greater uni-' TUBE-WELDING PROCESS Specification of Letters 1a.tent.

a seam edges of the tube.

'member which e. to make a perfect welded tube 1. and-9; Fig.5 is the line 5- 5 of Fig.- 2, showing ig. 6' is a sectional ,.clamped..betweemthejaws,

A. CORPORA- tised in a machine which i find-best suited m the purposes of my invention. v

Figure lis a side elevationof my novel welding machine. -The tube holding and moving mechanism of this machine com- Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

Serial No. 689,092. Divided and this application fiIedfMaIch 10, 1914. 'Seria1N0. 828,789. j

torch, positioned and operable in a novelmanner'to direct a welding The seam positionlng means here comprises a fixed blade; or enters the open seam of the tube and co-acts with the "receiving end-0r tube guide of the machine to direct the tube into the traveling vise in such manner that when grasped therebythe tube will present.

Welding flame of the a straight seam to the torch. The bur removing means COHIPIISGS, Y

a suitable planer tool in alinement with and conforming to the top of the tubing. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the machine, the welding torch being removed better to the machine; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section substantially on the line 33v of plan view of the -rear portion of the maor knife rigidly held 7 "isan' enlargeddet'ail disclose other parts of chine at which point the vise jaws separate; a

substantially on the end of a tube about to be grasped by the 'vise jaws. detail substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2', showing the tube a transverse section the 'line 10 10 of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a transas -whenmoving" i verse view partiallymisection showing def tails of the traveling conveyer or vise; F g.

12 is a detail view s 'bstantiallyon theiine 12 -12 of 2 showing the. throw-out idle gear for stoppinganfdistartin'g' the machine;

Fig. 13 is a' central longitudinal vertical section of the forward or receiving end of the machine showing the tube-positioning device; Fig. 14 is-a view similar to Fig. 13,

cl'une may comprise a horizontal box or' an outboard bearing 20" arm 20 and is driven from the countershaft 20 reducing worm 22 the belt P'..

connects thefshaft 2 and 21. T66

but showing a modified tube positioning device; vFigs. l5 and 16 are detail views of the torch and its holder, Fig. 15 being a plan view substantiallyon the line 17.17 of Fig. 16; and F igs.- 17, 18, and 19 are diagrammatic plan views showing the manner of gripping and forwarding lengths of tubes in end to end abutment.

Metallic tubing of the kind herein referred to is usually made by rolling or forming up a long strip of metal. Such tubing is characterized a longitudinal slit or open seam, the edges being in substantial abutment. The purpose of my invention is to unite these edges uniformly, rapidly, and economically. I accomplish this by placing the tube in a holder which exposes the seam of the tube and by moving the holder and the tube longitudinally at a uniform speed. By directing the flame of a torch which is veryintense and quite narrowed or localized upon the seam, the seam edges are fused and thus caused to as the tube moves past the torch.

When I use the terms weld, welded and welding they shouldbe construed'to mean uniting the edges of tubes and sim lar articles together by heat either with or for example as brazing, soldering, and the like, because my inventi 11 may be used and contemplates the formation of tubing by these methods. Also the. term flame, herein, should be construed to cover a flame produced in any desired way and also-an. intense heat such, for example, as an electric arc. 1

.As herein shown, the frame of the matrough B of cast iron supported by legs A at a height convenient for the operator. Bearing standards C, C and C, G, rise from opposite ends of the frame-and support a bed plate D. These standards carry bearings for the shafts 1 and 2. Sprockets 4, 4 and 3, 3' are mounted and spaced apart on the shafts 1 Sand 2, respectively, for purposes .which will appear hereinafter. Additional bearing standards 21", 21 rise from the sides a of the frame and support the main shaft 21 of the machine.

A mounted upon an at constant speed through the speed and wheel 22. f. The latter shaft is carried in side bracketsZO" and bears a large pulley which driven from any suitable source of power, as by means of A train of gears'12",.23'" and 23'- .The intermediate gear 23 of this carried run together or weld as fast The shaft also has hand lever 23" pivoted on the shaft 21 whereby it may be swung into and out of operation to start and stop the machine at will. At the forward end of the frame is an upstanding arm'51 which supports a guide 51". This guide supports the tube '1 and directs it into the machine. The vise or traveling tube holder is substantially horizontally disposed in the'frameand is alined -with the tube guide 51 to receive the tubes as they are fed to the machine. The sprockets 3, 3 and 4, 4 heretofore mentioned, carry endless elongated chains 5 and 5' composed of links Corresponding links 'of these chains are connected by parallel rods 16, two such rods being provided for each pair of links. These chains travel in unison at constant speed in the manner of an endless belt. Rows or series of gripping jaws 26, 26 are mounted and laterally movable upon the connecting rods 16. Opposed jaws are arranged in pairs and the ends of one pair of jaws practically meet 'or abut the ends of the next adjacent pair when they are in a straight lineso that those jaws which at any instant constitute the straight working portion or stretch of the vise, form in effect two continuous elongated gripping members or bars. These accommodate a considerable length of tube, and yet because divided into, a plurality of sections, these practically continuous gripping members may travel constantly in one direction. The gripping faces 6 are preferably formed in separate blocks or pieces, 6-6, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, to the end that the blocks may be readily removed and replaced by others conforming to tubes of different cross sectional shape. that the jaws grasp the tial portion of the tube, exposing preferably only desired portions of the upper side thereof. The jaws are normally held open by a pin 26 which is interposed between the jaws of each pair and against which opposed springs 26 moimted in openings 26 in each block act, as is best shown in, Figs. 5 and 1].. They are spread apart, to clear the tube at the forward end of the mechanism, as they rise into alinement with the tube. On the bed plate D, along the upper side or reach of 'travels, are two parallel guide or cam bars .13 and F between which the vise jaws travel and by which they areclosed and ma1ntained for a time with the tube. The forward" or receiving ends 6 and f of thesecam bars are curved or flared Y to receive pairs of jaws in succession as they rise into 'ali-nement with the" tube, and the rear ends .of these cam bars are likewise flared, but more abruptlygjsorthat the jaws will quickly open and relea@f,the tube. To insure the positive opening-qofthese jawsn'a wedge or greater circumferenwhich this mechanismand slowly close the It will be observed v I I the ends of the screws 36 and the through 'good weld.

spreader 10 is I this place; the point of the. spreader being positioned betweenthe rows of jaws. The cam bar F is clamped upon the bed 1plate by a number of bolts 30. The b0 ts pass elongated holes 31 in the bar F, permitting lateral adjustment, whereby the tubing may be subje ted to just that degree of lateral pressure needed to'hold the seam edges'of-the tube together and insure a The lateral thrust on this bar is taken by the horizontal screws 32, which are carried upstanding lugs 33 on the bed plate D. The cam bar -E is similarly arranged onthe bed plate 'D, but thebolts 33', locked in position by nuts 34, do not clamp it. Instead they permit it to move laterally. Heavy springs 35 are interposed between V edge of the cambar, thus providing an automatic compensator for the variations due to various causes; such as the expansion of the tube when heated. It will be observed that these parts are all so arranged that thetube holder may be widened or narrowed to adapt the machine to difierent sizes of tubes; Each vise section or jaw carries one or more small rollers 64 to reduce the friction incislotted bearings dz'i, for vertical adjustdent to the travel thereof upon the cam'bars or guides E and .F. These rollers are carried in lateral extensions of the jaws and run in grooves in the faces of the cam bars; such engagement prevents the jaws from Beneath the bed the bed plate. a transverse shaft mounted in rising off plate D is ment. -This shaft carries a pair of idler sprockets 45 which engage t e inner side of the lower chain reach. By adjusting set screws 4L6 the shaft 45 .andidler sprockets therewith may be raised and, lowered and thesk tension of the chains thereby regulated.

' sides of the bed plate and support a horizontal rod or shaft 60. The bridge 60 thus I formed supports the welding torch above thevise or tube holder, its position being intermediate the ends thereof. The torch which I have shown in the drawingsis of the oXy-acetylene type. It has two gas supply pipes 66 and 66- which terminate in a gas-mixing chamber 11., has a finely pointedfiame nozzle 11. The

' and 11 for proportioning the gases. Supfrom the sources of gas supply/are connected to'this head. The gas a This chamber .upper ends of the-pipes 66 and 66*- termi nate in ahead which carries gas cocks 11 plypipes 11 nozzle 11 is inclined downward toward the 7 tube and. toward the entrance guide 51" and plays a flame upon the seam of the tube "as it travels. forward. a The flamewhich burns ,atthe end of the nozzle-may be said v to consist of two portions: a fine, narrow, '65

secured to'the bedplate at .tioned.

pair of standards 60 rise from theclamped by alset -The arm 61 has a intensely hot portion which fuses-the edges.

t, t, of thetube and causes them to flow tdgether; and a far-extending coronaof lower temperature, which spreads forwardly along the tube. This .far-extendingor pre-.

the metal adjacent the tube scam in advance oi the actual welding pointand chine. It is, however, mounted insuch manner that it may be accurately posi-' By reference to Figs. 1, 3, 15 .and

16, it will be observed that the torch is "mounted on a lever 62 which 'ispiv'oted at 62 upon-another arm 61. This lever has a. handle which the torch may be quickly swung P ly clear of the tube, when it? is desired to inspect the work. In order,

however, that it may be returned instantly -to its previous position without readjustment or other manipulation, the free end of the arm 61 is engaged by a stop limit pin 62" on the lever 62. For accurate ad ustment in a vertical plane, the pipe 66 of the torch is held in a split block 63 rotatably mounted in a socket. 63' in the side of the lever 62. This block has an upstanding lug or projection 6 1' which engages an adjusting screw tated against the opposing action of a spring 67 also acting against the lug 64". By manipulating this screw the torch nozzle may be accurately spaced from the tube seam, and this adjustment will not be destroyed when the torch is swung upwardly .and afterward returned to its' working'posif 67 by-which the block islrotion. .The split block also permits the torch nozzle to be. rotated slightly as required in alining it exactly with the tube seam. Mounted-in the split block 63 .is a swivel 65 in which the gas pipe 66 of the-torch is screw 66. The torch can thereby be set and held at desired height.

split collar 60 which permits' it to be adjusted horizontally along the-bridge rod 60 and a screw 61' fixes-it in adjusted position. By means of the parts just described the position of the torch may. be adjusted to a .nicety, and at the same time the torch may be swung clearof the tube and returned to exactly its previous position. A constantwelding relation heating portion of the flame raises the term 70 perature of enables a greater welding speed to be obtained, This action is further. enhanced I the novel construction of 'the vise blocks will be hereinafter explained. In the should be maintained between the tube seam flame in order that the seam positioningbladejG isarran'ged just the "traveling tube holder inadylanceot This-bade or guidev may be mounted in a bridge 50. secured on the forwardend the seam. will be bridge 50. An additional diskor wheel 55' frame A. lit maybe removably clamped be tween two blocks'g and g by the eccentric cam 9.. The blade Gr enters the tube seam as the tube feeds into the'machine and if the tube seam is in twisted condition. the blade, in conjunction with the traveling vise, exerts a 'twisting or torsional vforce upon the tube to straighten the seam there- I of 'with respect to the vise and "the torch. Thus kinks or irregularities in. the tube seam will be automatically 'corrected and presented as a straight line flame. It is sometimes de sirable ,to use one or more rotary disks in place of the stationary positioning blade 1G. Fig. 14 shows adisk mounted on the to the welding is mounted on anextension 51 between the disk .55 and the vise, Such disks will Wear longer than the fixed blade.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 6, it will be noted that the jaw sections 6 are provided with. extensions or heat localizers 6 which preferably flare slightly on their inner sides and extend outward beyond the tube clamping surfaces of the jaws. The

purpose of these extensions 6 is to form a.

comparatively deepheat retaining groove in the top of the traveling vise- As shown, the nozzle of the torch and. the flame thereof enter'this groove and it will be obvious that the walls of the groove thus formed serve to direct and'confine the heat upon the top and seamedges of the tube, thereby greatly facilitating the welding ofthe edges.-

' The pre-formed tubesto be welded are started through theguide 51 into the traveling tube holder by which they are earned bodily along beneath the welding torch, one tube immediately following-the other in continuous series, the ends Z of the. tubes being in end to end abutment. As each tube is carried along by the moving holder the irregularities -in the seam are automatically corrected. by the seam. positioning mechanism, andthe seam is thus presented by the holder in exact .alinement with the welding flame. Itwill be observed that the device grasps the tube'for a considerable portion of-its length and. holds the tube edges in proper Welding relation, and at the same time holds respective tubes in intimate end to end abutmentso' that there isno poss1- bility of the flame of the torch eating into the end of the tube as new length'is presented thereto. And in fact the respectlve definite len h tubeswhen gripped in my unique holder orm a substantially continuous tube. I am thereby "enabled to weld definite lengths of tubes continuously and without any waste either of time or material due to impcrfectwelding at the tube ends.

Q The torchjis positioned above the traveling holder intermediate its ends, and hence the tube is not hi ly-firmly held by the holder greases in advance of the welding point, but it is also held undisturbed after the weld is formed for asuflicient. length of time to allow thetube to lose its heat through radiation intothe-surrounding, air-and the massive gripping parts of the holder. time the tube has emerged from end of themachine it has cooled to a great extent and there is no. danger that the weld will open. In order that the vise jaws may be kept cold,- they'are a'rranged to travel through the trough (frame) .13. which is filled with water. If desired, a constant water circulation may be; maintained by providing a Water inlet b" (Fig, 3) and an overflow pipe-b".

I 'Durin the welding operation a raised seam or ur t usually forms on theitop of 'jthe tubing.- This bur is shown somewhat exaggerated in 'Fig. 6; 'It'is' desirable to 3" remove the bur, so that the completed tube will be smooth and uniform. As previously stated the tube is practically cold when it reaches the rear portionof the machine and for that reason I refer to locate-the bur remover at that point. thejbur remover were located where the tube is. still hot it would be detrimental'ly affected by the heat 7 ereof. The bur removing mechanism 80, shown in Figs..l 2 and 6, comprises a planer knife or tool 81, positioned in alinement with the'tubing; ing edge of the tool 81 conforms to the top of the tubing. I prefer toarrange the knife or tool at an angle to the horizontal axis ciency may be increased. To thisend it is rigidlybolted to the angled portion 8.4:.of the cross standard 85, by stud bolts 83'. The knife is provided with a slot to accommodatethe bolts and to permit vertical ad- The bottom or work- 7 of the tubing in order that the cutting'efli- 'justment. The standard 85 is bolted to the bed plate D, and is bowed-upward freely to span the traveling vise j aws.- As the tubing travels beneath the sharp edge of the planer tool 81, the latter cuts or scrapes off the raised seam or bur t? leaving the top of the tubing in a smooth and finished. condition like the other portions of the tube. The

' seam or weld in the tube after thus finished is practically invisible and the tube has the appearance of and may be considered and treated as a seamlesstube.

It will be obvious that while my process is particularly adapted for welding tubes, it may be used for welding other articles which present longitudinally disposed seams.

By my unique method I am thus enabled to weld lengths of tubes continually. I am enabled to secure a full unit of welded tube which not only saves the material but also dling saves the expense required in' rehan same to cut off the waste portion.

I'claim:-

' 1. The herein desc 'bed process of continuously welding lngths of tubing which consists in placmga plurality of tubes in ticles having longitudinally disposed seams which consists in placing a plurality thereof in endto end abutment, holding them in this position and moving them forward, applying heat to-the seam edges of the article,

' and thereby welding the respectively abutted tubes as they move.

3. The herein described process of continuously weldinglengths of elongated articles having longltudinally disposed seams,

which consists in placing a plurality thereof in end to end abutment, applying forces thereto to aline the seams in a'predetermined position, holding them in this position, moving them forward and applying heat to the V seam edges and thereby welding the respectively abutted tubes as they move.

4. A process of continuously welding lengths of tubing which consists in placing a plurality of longitudinally seamed tubes inend to end abutment, applying forces to ward, applying heat to hold same in this position, move them forthe seam edges at a relatively fixed point, and applying pressure permanently to un'tethe seam.

5. The herein described process of welding tube lengths and slmilar articles having longitudinally-disposedseams, which lengths of tubing,

' moving them consists in holding ,the ends of two tubes simultaneously in 'end to end abutment, forward, applying heat to the seam edges thereof at a relatively fixed point, and applying compressive forces to the tubes to close the seamfthereby welding the articles as they move.

6. The process ofcontinuously welding lengths of tubing and the like, which consists in moving and holding tubing, feeding other tubing thereto, gripping same to hold to end abutment with the first forward therewith, heat to the tubing it in end tubing, and moving it and applying welding moved, thereby welding successive portions thereof. v

7'. The process ,of continuously welding which consists in applying forces to hold the seam edges of the metal tube together and to move the tube forward as a whole, applying heat to the seam edges of the tube at'a relatively fixed point and uniting the seam as the tube moves, and before the together, ward past tube is welded throughout its igngthi placing another seamed tube in end similar forces thereto to hold the seamedges and to the relatively fixed heating zone, and thus continuously welding lengths of tubing. a

8. The process of. welding preformed tubes having longitudinally disposed seams which consists in applying forces-to hold the seam edges of themetal together and to move the tube forward as a whole, applying heat to' the seam edges of, the tube at a relatively fixed point and thereby welding the tube as it-moves', and beforethe tube is welded throughout its entire length placing a similar tube in end to end abutment'ther'ewlth, applying forces thereto to aline the seams of the two tubes,

ing zone, moving the tube forward as a Whole, applying heat to the seam edges of the tube at a relatively fixed point; and thereby welding the seam as the tube moves, and before the tube is welded throughout. its entire length placing a similar seamed tube in end to end abutment therewith, moving the second tube forward past the relatively fixed heating zone and thus continuously welding the lengths of tubing. I

10. The process of continuously welding lengths of preformed tubing having. longitudinally extending seams which consists in applying forces thereto to hold the seam edges of the metal tube together, moving the tube forward as a whole, and simultaneously positioning the seam edges in line with a predetermined heating zone, applying heat to the seam edges of the tube at a relatively fixed point' as thus held and moved, and. thereby welding the tube as it moves, and before the tube is .welded throughout its entire length placing a similarly seamedfitube in end to end abutment moving the second" tube forward past the relatively fixed heating zone, and thus continuously welding lengths abutment therewith'and applying move the second tube for- I therewith, applying similar forces thereto 3 to hold the seam edges together, moving the second tube forward in continued end to end 11. The process of continuously welding lengths of tubing and the like having longitudinally extending seams which consists in moving the tubing forward,- applying heat to "the seam edges thereof at a reIa. tively fixed point, applying compressively tube at the point of heat acting forces to the uniting the seam edges application, thereby as they move, throughout its entire length placing a similarly seamed tube in end to end abutment therewith, moving the second tube forward in continued end to end abutment past the heating zone and applying 'compressively acting forces thereto adjacent the heating zone, thus continuouslywelding lengths of tubing.

seams, which 12. The herein described, process of con tinuously welding preformed lengths of tubing having longitudinally extending consists in placing two tubes in end to end forward in continued end to .end abutment, applying heat to the seam edges thereof at a relatively fixed point and compressively gripping the said-tubes for a distance ateach side of the abutted ends while heat is applied to the seam-edges-as the tubes move past the relatively fixed heating zone;

13. The herein described process of continuously welding preformed lengths of tubing having longitudinally; extending seams, which consists in placing two tubes in end .to end abutment, moving said tubes forward in continued end to end abutment, applying forces thereto to aline the seams of respective tubes, I applying heat to the seam edges thereof at a relatively fixed and before the tube is welded.

abutment, moving said tubes" 'uniting'the seams as of tubing.

point and compressively gripping the said tubes for a dlstance at each side of the abutted ends thereto to hold the seam edges of the metal together and to move the tubes forward in continued end to end abutment, impinging a welding flame upon the seam edges of the tubes at a relatively fixed point, thereby the tubes move and applying-compressively acting forces to a por tion of each, tube adjacent the abutted ends as the tubes. approach the relatively fixed flame and thus continuously welding lengths In testimony whereof, I have hereunto "set my hand, this 18th day of February, 1914, in the presence of two subscribing witnes'ses. c

' MARSHALL BURNS LLOYD. WVitnesses: I I

' R. G. WAIS,

C. O. PoR'rEnFmLD. 

